Shabbat candle-lighting times

• Friday, 21 November 2008 — Candle lighting: 4:36pm
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• Saturday, 22 November 2008 — Parashat Chayei Sara
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• Saturday, 22 November 2008 — Havdalah (72 min): 6:06pm
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Jewish holiday calendar

All holidays start at sunset the day before the date listed, and also end at sundown.

Looking for holiday events and activities near you? Visit BayArea.PlanitJewish.com, a new Jewish events calendar service brought to you by the Jewish Community Federation.

Chanukah

Monday, December 22, 2008 - Monday, December  29, 2008 / 25 Kislev - 2 Tevet
Eight-day holiday commemorating the Jewish victory over the Syrians and the miracle of the rededication of the Temple, when oil meant to last for one day burned for eight. Celebrated by lighting candles in a chanukiah (a nine-branched candelabrum), eating latkes (potato pancakes), playing with dreidels (spinning tops) and giving money or gifts.
more info & links

Tu B'Shevat

Monday, February 9, 2009 / 15 Shevat
Biblical in origin, a holiday that celebrates springtime renewal and growth. Traditions include eating fruit and planting trees.
more info & links

Purim

Tuesday, March 10, 2009 / 14 Adar
Joyous holiday commemorating the rescue of the Jews by Queen Esther and her uncle Mordecai from the evil Haman. The story is read aloud and when Haman is mentioned in the Megillah (scroll) of Esther, people scream and turn groggers (noisemakers) to drown out his name. Traditions include parties, dances, mishloach manot (gift-giving), and eating hamentashen (three-cornered, fruit-filled pastries). Some also fast on the day before Purim to remember the three-day fast Esther requested of the Jews of Persia.
more info & links

Pesach

Thursday, April 9, 2009 - Thursday, April  16, 2009 / 15-22 Nissan
Celebrates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. At the seder (service and festive meal), the Haggadah (collection of texts and commentaries on the Exodus) is read and symbolic foods are eaten. In remembrance of the departure of the Israelites, who could not wait for their bread to rise before fleeing, matzah (unleavened bread) is eaten for the eight days of Passover.
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Yom HaShoah

Tuesday, April 21, 2009 / 27 Nissan
Day chosen by the Israeli Knesset in 1951 to mourn the millions killed in the Holocaust. Often commemorated with speeches by survivors and the reading of names. In Israel, a siren's blast allows collective remembrance in a moment of silence.
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Yom HaZikaron

Tuesday, April 28, 2009 / 4 Iyar
Day of remembrance for all who sacrificed themselves for the state of Israel. Public observances include lighting of yahrzeit (memorial) candles, visiting graves and reciting psalms. In Israel, sirens blast once in the morning and then in the evening to begin Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel Independence Day.
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Yom HaAtzma'ut

Wednesday, April 29, 2009 / 5 Iyar
On May 14, 1948 Israel was declared an independent state. Many Jews world-wide celebrate with parades, festivals and donations to Jewish charities.
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Lag B'Omer

Tuesday, May 12, 2009 / 18 Iyar
One-day suspension of the traditional mourning period during Sefirat HaOmer ("The Counting of the Omer"). On this day, a plague afflicting Rabbi Akiva's students ceased. Also commemorates Bar Kochba's recapture of Jerusalem from the Romans. Celebrated with picnics and nature outings. Sefirat HaOmer is a seven-week period that begins the second night of Pesach and ends at Shavuot. The 32 mourning days during this time commemorate the deaths of Rabbi Akiva's students. Traditionally, weddings, festivities, and haircuts are prohibited during this time.
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Shavuot

Friday, May 29, 2009 - Friday, May  30, 2008 / 6-7 Sivan
Celebrated the day after Sefirat HaOmer ends to commemorate the giving of the Torah at Sinai and the spring harvest. Traditionally, Jews read the Ten Commandments and the Book of Ruth and eat dairy products. Religious school confirmation often takes place at this time.
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Fast of Tammuz

Thursday, July 9, 2009 / 17 Tammuz
Fast from dawn until nightfall commemorating the day Moses broke the first Tablets of the Covenant because the Israelites made the Golden Calf. Also marks the beginning of the siege on Jerusalem before its destruction. Begins the Three Weeks, a mourning period ending at Tisha B'Av.
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Tisha B'Av

Thursday, July 30, 2009 / 9 Av
Day of fasting and mourning commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples, both of which took place on the ninth of Av. The Book of Lamentations is read, and some conduct services sitting on the floor.
more info & links

Tu B'Av

Wednesday, August 5, 2009 / 15 Av
Also known as the Festival of Love or the Holiday of Unity, this often-overlooked holiday falls between the Three Weeks holidays (Fast of Tammuz and Tish B'Av) and the Jewish New Year. It probably started as an agricultural holiday but now is said to mark the day that the tribes of Israel were allowed to intermarry. It is celebrated in Israel with gifts of flowers.
more info & links

Rosh Hashanah

Saturday, September 19, 2009 - Sunday, September  20, 2009 / 1-2 Tishrei
Festive celebration during which individuals contemplate past, present, and future actions. Traditional foods include round challah and apples with honey, symbolizing wholeness and sweetness for the new year. Commences the Ten Days of Awe, which culminate on Yom Kippur.
more info & links

Yom Kippur

Monday, September 28, 2009 / 10 Tishrei
One of the holiest days of the Jewish year. Through fasting and prayer, Jews reflect upon their relationships with other people and with God, atoning for wrongdoings and failures to take right action. Ends at sunset with a blast of the shofar (ram's horn).
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Sukkot

Saturday, October 3, 2009 - Friday, October  9, 2009 / 15-21 Tishrei
Seven-day holiday commemorating the fulfillment of God's promise to bring the Israelites to the Promised Land after forty years of wandering. Many people build a sukkah (booth), a temporary structure with a roof made of branches, modeled after the huts constructed in the desert. Also celebrated with the shaking of the lulav (assemblage of palm, willow and myrtle branches) and etrog (a lemon-like fruit).
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Shemini Atzeret

Saturday, October 10, 2009 / 22 Tishrei
Celebrated the day after Sukkot and thus sometimes considered an extension of that holiday. Marks the first time tefillat geshem (prayer for rain) is recited during services, a practice that continues until Pesach.
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Simchat Torah

Sunday, October 11, 2009 / 23 Tishrei
Celebrates the completion of the annual Torah-reading cycle. After finishing the last sentence of the chapter Devarim (Deuteronomy), the Torah is joyously paraded seven times around the synagogue. The new cycle begins immediately with a reading from Bereshit (Genesis).
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